[ SECRET POST #2937 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2937 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 056 secrets from Secret Submission Post #420.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I have a friend who went full Tumblr and all her fandom activity and writing now consists of capslock squee and meta discussion. No concrit, just OMG THIS IS SO IMPORTANT YOU GUYS BLAH BLAH BLAH. It's sad because she's a good writer with great ideas but she needs an editor. She used to want to be a published author, but could never hack the revisions needed when agents and editors told her the manuscript needed work. Only now she gets so much positive reinforcement that she believes she can dispense with revisions and editing altogether. Fandom's a kinder judge in some ways than the publishing industry.

Me, I keep my mouth shut and avoid giving her my opinion on the quality of her fics now. She's happy. She really just wants cheerleaders, not real betas, so... /shrug

[(Anonymous)]

The problem is that receiving concrit and acting on it is a skill in itself, and if you don't get concrit regularly, or become too used to only positive feedback, you can get rusty.

It's really sad when people who are really good writers otherwise decide to opt out of improving themselves. I'm not talking about fanfic either, because that's just a hobby.

I know professional writers who were good when they were younger but have admitted to me they hate getting edited and don't see the point as they found success before they had an editor. Their work always suffers long term. You can get so far without it, but you can't progress without accepting concrit, although then there's the problem of keeping your own vision. Writing is a really difficult combination of bloody-mindedness and humility.

[(Anonymous)]

DA

For all the criticism they get, that's one of the definite benefits of a writing course of some kind. It allows for both regular concrit in a (hopefully) safe environment, and it allows you to see from both sides of the fence. Figuring out what works and what doesn't in someone else's work is a hugely valuable tool for your own, if you're willing to apply it.

As a professional writer, I can say that I absolutely relish the editing process - for me the only thing that tops it is actually finishing the story. Most of the readers who have read it prior to that will have been familiar with my ideas/characters etc. already, so it's endlessly fascinating to see what a stranger makes of it. Because that's going to be your reader. They're not going to have reams of your notes and comments and explanations. They can't read your mind when it comes to "Oh, I meant for that scene to do/be/convey XYZ!" So if something doesn't work for your editor then chances are it won't work for your readers either, and whether you make changes or not based on that knowledge, it's still incredibly important.

That's not to say that I'll agree with every suggestion, but even disagreeing with your editor is priceless because it teaches you the critical thinking necessary to defend your choices, or, coversely, to understand why they just don't work and adjust accordingly.

[(Anonymous)]

even disagreeing with your editor is priceless because it teaches you the critical thinking necessary to defend your choices, or, conversely, to understand why they just don't work and adjust accordingly

Completely agree with you. Especially in terms of long-term learning, rather than just short-term typo fixing.

[(Anonymous)]

ayrt

Oh yeah, I can think of some professional writers whose later works suffered a lot from lack of editing. It happens on all levels of writing.

My friend will probably get rusty, but I don't think improving is a priority for her right now. She's in fandom for fun. It's just me who's a little disappointed, because I know she's really talented. With the right beta (and following up with revisions to fix some of the more glaring issues) she'd be great.

[(Anonymous)]

"went full Tumblr"

I have to remember that because it's a thing of beauty.